Month: June 2010

Ever since my first foray to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, at the age of 17, I have been awed by art. When I was 20, I worked for an art shipping company in SOHO that was in the same building as the top three New York galleries. I dated a few artists at this time. I was surrounded by art and people in the art world. I was going to gallery openings left, right and centre. I was exposed to beautiful and weird things.

After awhile, I got a bit jaded with the Art Scene. It is in a way like almost any ‘Scene’. You tend to see the same people, see the same things, and hear the same old, over and over. Then the bitchiness slowly ekes out. Similar to the Tango Scene! I eventually left my job and got a different boyfriend, from the music industry. Another ‘Scene’, another story!

This time I was surrounded by music, but I never stopped going to galleries or museums or stopped trying to appreciate art. Believe me, some of it is really hard to appreciate! I am not an expert on art and never will be, but I do get moved by it occasionally. Some of it I get and some I don’t. I might make a joke on occasion about how serious people can be about it and what might actually be constituted as art, but I always start with an open mind.

Over the years, I have been given a few paintings and have managed to purchase a few pieces of original artwork. I won’t buy prints. I want a one off original. When I went through my Feng Shui phase, I was very careful about the type of artwork I purchased. Artwork can be very representative of what you may want to attract in your life, so paintings of single figures were a no-no when I wanted a relationship. However, I think one can take that a bit too far and if you really love something and can afford it, then I think one should buy it. I have noticed that most of my artwork features water or landscapes; in the ones with people in them, there is also the sea. Hmmm!

Eastbourne has a wealth of talented artists and creative people. The beauty of the surrounding landscape is very inspiring on many levels. I have come across many talented people here. One of my neighbours restores furniture and takes beautiful photographs of the area and doesn’t even edit them! (I am so envious! 🙂 )My picture framer is also a wonderful photographer and uses Photoshop! Also, the place is full of charity and second hand shops. I have found some lovely pieces trawling through the charity shops, some by a showing artist done many years before he was commanding good money for his work. How the work ended up in the charity shop is a mystery and one I can hopefully resolve as I have been in touch with the artist. In the months before I moved into my new home, I have amassed a nice little collection; some may not be worth more than what I paid, if even that, and some I know are worth quite a bit more. It is amazing what one can find if you look hard enough. Even if what I have may not be worth much, I still like them and that is what matters. The wonderful thing about the little pieces that I have purchased is that they are all originals and all are signed by the artist, whoever they may be. Each person was very proud to put their name on their work and there is a story behind every piece, even if I don’t know what it is.

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Amor and I went to see the Johnny Spice Swing Orchestra at The Bandstandlast night. The doors opened at 7:30pm and there was already a queue for tickets. I had purchased ours earlier that morning and was able to get a discount with a Friend of Eastbourne Bandstand membership card. The card is £2.00 and is valid until the end of September 2015. I think that is pretty good value.

We found a good seat and waited for the band to start playing. I thought they were pretty good although they didn’t play what I would call swing, which was a little bit of a disappointment. If you are expecting a lively swing band to dance to, then I don’t think this is the band you are looking for. If you want to listen to some nice music, then you won’t be disappointed.

Johnny Spice Swing Orchestra

What really irked me though were these people:

Freeloaders

There were freeloaders on the sidelines! I paid good money for my tickets and so did everyone else that had a seat. Usually, they make a good effort to block off the bandstand when there is an event going on, so what is the point of paying for a seat when people can stand up on the sidelines and see what is going on for free! I was obviously some source of amusement for the people sitting next to me when they discovered my peevishness towards those listening for free. There were plenty of seats available. Someone at the bandstand has been slacking. I am trying to support my Bandstand in my new home town. I could have come down to the seafront to try to listen to the music for free, but I didn’t. It is the 75th Anniversary of The Eastbourne Bandstand and if you want to listen to the music, you should pay for the privilege! So there! Amor thought it was mildly amusing, but he won’t be so amused tonight when we go to the Motown tribute as he has paid for the tickets and they were more expensive than last night’s performance! 😉

However, the freeloaders didn’t stop me from enjoying my evening. The weather was really mild and when the performance was over, this is what we saw:

There was a full moon shining on the water and the lights were on all along The Pier and the Promenade. It was a glorious evening. I so love my new town! The weather has been sunny and hot and the palms are in bloom. They smell like Jasmine. And to think I only live a few minutes walk from all of this! 🙂

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